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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. M00. ROBERTSON. MACHINE PCR COMPRESSING AND BINDING 0R CORDING TOBACCO.

No. 551,838.l

Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

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(N5 Model.) -2 4sheets-sheet 2.

J. M80. ROBERTSON.. 'MACHINE FOR GOMPRESSING AND BINDING 0R GORDING TOBACCO.

No. 551,888. Patented D55. 24, 1895.

- in section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MCCREADIE ROBERTSON, OF DUBLIN, IRELAND.

MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING AND BINDING OR CORDING TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,838, dated December 24, 1895.

Application led JanuarylQ, 1895. Serial No. 535,455. (No model.) Patented in England March 9, 1894,1Io. 4,935; in France Jannary16, 1895, No. 244,390, and in Belgium Jannary18,1895,1lo.113,686.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MCCREADIE RoB- ERTSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Dublin, Ireland, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Compressing and Binding or Cording Tobacco, (for which patents have been obtained in GreatBritain March 9, 1894i, No. l1,935; in France January'16, 1895, No. 244,390; in Belgium January 18, 1895, No. 113,686, and application filed in Germany January el, 1895, notyet granted and not numbered 5) and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object improvements in machinery whereby the process of compressing and binding or cording plug-tobacco may be accomplished in` a simpler and more ,eficient'and economical manner than heretofore.

In order that my said invention may be readily understood and carried into practice, I will proceed to describe it in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a plan, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, of my improved machinery. Fig. 3 is an end View of certain parts partly in section. Fig. 4 is a side view of the same parts partly Fig. 5 is an end view of certain parts. Fig. 6 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a portion.

The drawings show the plug of tobacco as having been partly acted upon.

Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they appear.

A indicates the frame of the machine, B and B', the heads which constitute the bearings for the tobacco-carrying spindles orbearers C and G,each capable of yielding endwise to a small extent, and the pulleys 1, 2, and 3, the head B being `xed, while B is capable of being shifted for the purpose of accommodating the length of tobacco to be corded. A The pulleys 1 and 3 are loose to take an open and a crossed belt from a drivingpulley, (not shown,) whereby the rotation of pulley 2, which is fast on the arbor, may be reversed by the shifting of the respective belts by guide-forks 4 and 5 carried on shiftingrods 6 and 7 mounted on each side of the machine.

' 8 is alongitudinal screw-spindle carried in suitable bearings and operated by the pulley 2 through spur-gears 9 and IO. Over this screw-spindle is mounted a carriage-saddle 11, Figs. 3 and 4, which can be traversed longitudinally and affords a long and eflicient bearing for the revolving head 12, the latter in turn supporting the overhung deep-flanged loose pulley or bobbin 13, on which a just suflicient quantity of the binding-cord 37 is coiled.

On the face of the revolving head 12 is pivoted a guide-pawl 14, grooved on its upper and outer edge to facilitate the passage of the binding-cord 37 in transit from the loose pulley 13 through the aperture 15 to be wound tightly upon the tobacco-plug 16, as hereinafter described.

The loose pulley or bobbin 13 is provided with an ordinary brake-band 17 for the purpose of regulating the tension of the cord 37 in the process of binding. This brake may be actuated by a spring with provisions for adjusting, as practiced in kindred arts.

In front of the revolving head and on the same carriage-saddle 11 is erected an eye or guide D, Figs. 5 and 6, consisting of two pieces 18 and 19, hinged at 2O and secured by a clamping device at 2l. This does not revolve, but simply traverses longitudinally with the traversing of the head. At opposite extremities of the diameter of the eye and at right angles to its plane are mounted rollers 22, whose peripheries are shaped to suit the section of the circle which they occupy. The vertical rods on which these rollers are carried are provided with spiral springs (not shown) operated by the thumb -screws 25, whereby the pressure of the rollers upon the corded plug may be regulated at pleasure.

From the carriage-saddle the bobbin 26 is suspended which carries the binding-cord 37, and from which the latter is transferred to the loose pulley 13 as required.

The pinion 29 is smoothly bored to fit on the exteriors of the screw-threads oi` the screwspindle 3 and coupled therewith, so as to be revolved thereby by means of a feather 24, engaging the spline shown therein and in the screw, whereby a rotary motion is imparted to the pinion, which in turn is communicated through the pinions 2S and 27 to the revolv ing head 12, (the pinion 27 being fast on same,) while meantime the carriage -saddle 11 is moved longitudinally by the bracket 30, which is threaded to engage the screw 8. Thus as the screw-spindle revolves a compound motion-rotary and horizontal-is communi-v cated to the revolving head 12. This motion may be reversed at pleasure by the reversion of the motion of the screw-spindle.

32 is a stop iixed adjustably on the rod 6 and capable of being partially revolved. It has a long and a short arm and a handle, by which it may be turned to present either to be struck by the saddle 11 in its return motion. Both arms of thestop 32, and alsoV the single stop 31 which arrests the motion in the other direction, are elastic.

rlhe action of my improved machinery is as follows: The carriage-saddle 11 having been brought to its starting position near the fixed head B, the plug of tobacco to be compressed and bound is inserted through the revolving head 12 and guide-eye'or stay D, and is secured at both ends by pressure against (or by penetrating suitable sockets in) the free ends of spindles C and C. In this position the plug is held stationary during the process of binding. The free end of the binding-cord (of which a sufficient quantity for binding 011e plug is carried on the loose` pulley 13) eX- tends through aperture 15 and along the edge of pawl 14, and is by the fingers of the attendant or by any suitable device pressed against and caused to adhere to the tobacco. The machine is then started by the open belt on fast pulley 2, whereupon the screw-spindle 8 carries forward the carriage-saddle 11 through the agency of bracket 30 and communicates rotary motion by the pinions 27, 2S and 29to the revolving head 12, which in its revolutions around the plug 16, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 3, pays out the binding-cord 37 from the loose pulley 13, winding the same in regular convolutions until the tobacco is completely covered. On arriving at the end of its travel the carriage strikes an arm 31, attached to rod 7, whereby the belt is shifted from iast pulley 2 onto the loose pulley 3 and the machine stops when the corded plug is removed. The cross-belt is now shifted to fast pulley 2, whereupon the rotation of the screw-spindle is reversed and the carriage-saddle 11 returns to its original position. yWhen it has completed a certain portion of the return journey it strikes the long arm of the pivoted stop 32, attached to the longitudinal sliding rod G, and moves it so as to shift the cross-belt upon the loose pulley 1, and the machine stops. Then the end of a fresh supply of the cord 37 from the large spool 2G is attached to the bobbin 13, the stop 32 is partially revolved so as to raise its long arm out of use and present its short arm in the longitudinal portion ready to serve, and a pin is moved longitudinally through the revolving head l2 into a corresponding aperture in the bobbin 13, whereby the latter is temporarily keyed to the former. Next, the rod 6 being again shifted to replace the belt upon the fast pulley 2 and continue the motion, the bobbin 13 turns with the revolving head during the remainder of the return journey and automatically draws off from the supply-bobbin 26 and stores upon itself a suiiicient length of cord 37 for the next opcration. At the end of the return movement the carriagesaddle 11 strikes the shorter arm of the revolving stop 32 and again moves the rod 3, and the machine is again stopped. Then the pin is again withdrawn and the cord 37 is cut and the end ofthe portion stored on t-he bobbin 13 is rovc through the hole 15 and connected to the next plug of tobacco, and the covering proceeds as before. During the act of binding there is a natural tendency on the part of the plug to elongate or expand, and to provide for this tendency the spindles C and C impinge against spiral springs 34 and 35, Fig. 1, which yield as the plug elongates or expands, and thus buckling is avoided.

It is obvious that plugs of varying thicknesses and lengths may be readily corded by the machinery herein described, making the necessary changes in the adjustment oi the machine.

To counteract the pressure of the plug caused by the pull of the cord 37 in the act of binding the tobacco, a roller 36 is xed on the face of the revolving head.

Having now described the nature of my invention, what I claim is- 1. In apparatus for compressing and cording to bacco, the improved bi ndin g mechanism comprising a carriage saddle 11, arranged to move longitudinally, in combination with a revolving head 12, and loose pulley or bobbin 13, the revolving head having a guide 15 for the binding, and also with the supports C C', adapted to hold the plug stationary, all arranged and operating in the manner substantially as herein specified.

2. In apparatus for compressing and cording tobacco, binding mechanism comprising a carriage saddle 1l, a revolving head 12 and loose pulley or bobbin 13, the revolving head being provided with an aperture 15, in combination with suitable means for supporting the plug, and with the guide pawl 14, and guide D, constructed, arranged and operating in the manner substantially as described.

IOO

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3. In apparatus for compressing and cordjoint Operation substantially as herein speciing tobacco,the mechanism described, confied. sising of the bearers C, CQ carriage saddle Dated Jche 6th day of December, 1894.

11, revolving head 12 and bobbn 13, the guide JAMES McCR-EADIE ROBERTSON. 5 D in line therewith, the bracket 30, splned Witnesses:

screw spindle 8, splined spur gear 29, and Jshe A. WM. LABERTOUCHE,

connecting gears 27 and 28, all arranged for ANGELO FAHIE. 

